Process of separating and recovering volatilized matter.



G. MELLEN. mzocnss 0F SEPARATING AND BEGOVERING VOLATILIZBD MATTER. APPLICATION FILED DEG.19,1912.

1 ,O9'7,1 35, Patented May 19, 1914.

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GRENVILLE HELLER, OF EAST OwGE, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF SEPARATIN G A IND RECOVER-ING VOIJAT'ILIZED MATTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed December 19, 1912. Serial No. 737,744,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRENVILLE MELLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Separating and Recovering Volatilized Matter, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to the removal of the more volatile component or components in a mixture or compound by subjecting a continuously flowing stream of the mixture or compound to a temperature sufficient to distil oil the volatile part, while the flowing stream is being constantly mixed so as to bring fresh portions to the surface; and to a simplified apparatus in which the process can be operated.

The object of my invention is to separate a mixture or compound into its component Parts, and to recover the separated part or parts in a condition in which they will be available for further treatment, or in which they can be used in practice without-further treatment.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus or furnace; Fig. Q'isa vertical cross-section along the line II-II of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the outlet for the products of combustion and for the volatilized products.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a furnace 1, comprises side walls 2, 2, and end walls 3, 3, and a flat shelf or support 4 at the upper part, extending over the greater part of the interior of the structure; above the shelf 4 is an arch roof 5, forming with the shelf a combustion chamber 4, which is heated by burners 6, 6. A vertical channel 7, constitutes an outlet for products of combustion, and also for any volatilized matter rcsulting from the treated material within the combustion chamber. Below the shelf 4 is a series of flat top arches. shelves, falls or supports 8 in cascade, extending over the greater part of the structure in the reverse direction to shelf 4; the space between the arches 8 and the lower side of the shelf 4 constitutes a combustion chamber 8 heated by the burner 9, the prodnets of combustion from which pass out through the channel 7. A space 10, between the arches and the wall 3, constitutes'a passage from below the arches to the combustion chamber, and channel 7. Below the arches 8, to the bottom of the structure, are several series of arches or supports 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, similar to 8, but extending in alternate directions, forming a tortuous passage from the top support 4 to the bottom of the structure; each series of arches or supports constituting the hearth of a combustion chamber heated by burners 9' projecting through the walls 2, 2. The products of combustion from all the burners pass out through 7 In the walls 3, 3 are openings 11, 11, each opposite the combustion chamber above a series of cascade supports, and through which access may be had to make repairs, etc.; the openings are closed by removable walls 11 when the furnace is in operation. Communicating with the combustion chamber 4*, is a hopper 12 controlled by an adjustable gate 13; material to be treated is supplied in a liquid or solid state to the hopper from which it feeds lthrough the gate to the combustion cham- A specific application of my invention is in the treatment of alloys containing one or more volatile elements; for example, scrap brass may be melted and poured in the hopper 12, from which it will flow through the gate 13 to the combustion chamber 4, in which a part of the zinc content will be distilled off and oxidized to zinc oxid, which will mix with the products of combustion and pass out through channel 7. The residue of molten brass will flow over the sup- A port 4 to the cascade supports 8 below, where it will be further heated by burner 9, and the ascending heated gases from lower burners, distilling out and oxidizing a further quan tity of zinc, the vapors passing oil with the products of combustion as in combustion chamber 4. This treatment is repeated by flowing the. molten metal over all the supports in cascade, resembling a succession of waterfalls until the final product leaves the furnace at the bottom through outlet 19 and is collected in any suitable receiver 20. During its passage through the furnace, the molten brass is constantly agitated by pour ing from one support to another, whereby fresh supplies of zinc are constantly exposed, facilitating its distillation. The upper combustion chambers are heated by oxidizing flames, to insure the removal of all of the zinc; the lower combustion furnace is heated with a reducing-flame,-'to

avoid the oxidation'of copper, and to reduce any oxids of copper that may have formed in the upper chambers.

The volatilized products and the products of combustion. pass out through channel? and outlet 23 to a suitable fume arrester, not shown, in which the fumes are recovered.

I claim:

1. The continuous process of separating zinc from brass, comprising heating the brass to a temperature sufficient to distil off the zinc, flowing the heated brass in a series of falls in cascade, subjecting the flowing brass to further heat and to the action of a heated gaseous stream in contact therewith flowing in the opposite direction.

2. The continuous process of separating zinc from brass, and forming zinc oxid, comprising melting the brass, flowing said molten brass in a series of falls in cascade, heating said molten brass by oxidizing flames to volatilize and then oxidize the Zinc to Zinc oxid, removing said oXid of zinc by a gaseous stream flowing opposite to said molten brass, and collecting the residue of said molten brass. Y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GRENVILLE MELLEN.

Vitnesses JOSEPH \V. HAmns, N. P. LEONARD. 

